"GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition Released by Modders Despite Take-Two's Efforts"

A Russian modding group known as Revolution Team has launched its ambitious 'GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition', despite facing YouTube takedowns initiated by Take-Two, the parent company of Rockstar Games. This mod ambitiously ports the entire world, cutscenes, and missions from the 2002 classic, Vice City, into the 2008 engine of GTA 4, offering fans a fresh take on a beloved game.

In their video description, the modders expressed frustration over the sudden deletion of their YouTube channel by Take-Two, without any prior warning or attempt at communication. They highlighted the significant effort and time invested in the channel, including hundreds of hours of streaming dedicated to the mod's development. The loss of this platform also meant losing touch with their international audience, especially after their teaser trailer for GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition garnered over 100,000 views and 1,500 comments in less than a day.

The modders described Take-Two's action as "cruel" but acknowledged their inability to change the situation. They chose silence initially to avoid risking further disruptions to their project's release. Despite the emotional toll of not being able to celebrate the launch as planned, they emphasized the importance of meeting their release date.

Originally, the mod was intended to require a legitimate copy of GTA 4 as a sign of respect to the publisher. However, due to uncertainties, it was released as a standalone, installation-ready package to ensure stable performance for a wider audience.

Revolution Team remains defiant in the face of Take-Two's actions, emphasizing that their mod is a non-commercial, fan-driven project. They expressed gratitude towards the original game's developers, while lamenting Take-Two's approach to modding initiatives that aim to keep interest in their iconic games alive. They hope their project sets a precedent for the modding community.

Take-Two's history of takedowns related to Rockstar games has strained its relationship with the modding community. The company has a track record of targeting mods, from AI-powered GTA 5 story mode mods to VR mods for Red Dead Redemption 2, and the recent Liberty City Preservation Project. Interestingly, Take-Two has also hired modders to work at Rockstar Games and has followed some takedowns with announcements of official remasters.

Former Rockstar Games technical director Obbe Vermeij defended Take-Two and Rockstar's actions, stating that they are protecting their business interests. He noted that mods like the VC NextGen Edition directly compete with official releases like the Definitive Edition, and projects like the Liberty City preservation could interfere with potential remasters.

The critical question now is whether Take-Two will move to take down the GTA Vice City Nextgen Edition mod itself, following their history of stringent actions against mods that they perceive as threats to their business interests.